SHARP FROM THE ARC HORRY SINKS 3-POINTER TO CAP LATE RALLY, SEND PORTLAND PACKING LAKERS 92, PORTLAND 91.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

PORTLAND, Ore. - Of all the players on the court, Kobe Bryant had the clearest view of Robert Horry's game-winning 3-pointer in the Lakers' 92-91 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday to complete a three-game Western Conference quarterfinals sweep.

Bryant had just drawn Portland's defense to him on a dribble-drive to the basket, then flicked the ball over to Horry, who was standing alone in the right corner. His work done, Bryant paused to watch Horry set and shoot with four seconds remaining and the Lakers trailing 91-89.

One word swirled around in Bryant's head as the ball took flight.

``Cash,'' Bryant said. ``It's hard to describe what it feels like when the ball is floating through the air like that, and you know it's going in. All I was thinking was, `Cash.' ''

When Horry's shot fell through, silencing a previously raucous Rose Garden crowd of 20,580 and stunning a Blazers team that had every reason to believe a fourth game would take place Wednesday, the Lakers, practically dead in the water a few moments before after Portland took a five-point lead with 39 seconds left, gathered at midcourt and walked as a group back to their delirious bench.

There were still 2.1 seconds left on the clock, plenty of time for the Blazers to steal back the game. But after bowing to the Lakers three times in the past four playoffs, including the infamous seventh-game Western Conference finals implosion two years ago and last year's embarrassing three-game sweep in the opening round, then to have Bryant and Horry rip out their hearts once again Sunday by hitting two consecutive 3-pointers over a 15-second stretch to wipe out the five-point lead, the Blazers had simply had enough.

All that was left to officially seal the Blazers' newest nightmare and the Lakers' latest postseason heroics was Scottie Pippen's uncertain inbounds pass to Rasheed Wallace, which floated over Wallace's head and into the waiting hands of Horry. If you hadn't actually seen the ball coming out of Pippen's hand, you would have thought he was throwing in a towel.

``I guess we have (the Blazers') number,'' Bryant said.

Even on a slow day.

The Lakers won despite Shaquille O'Neal's five field goals in 11 attempts (21 points) and getting worked over by the Blazers on the glass, 53-37, including 17-6 on the offensive end.

O'Neal also had seven assists (tying Bryant for the team lead) and 11 rebounds, and Bryant regained his shooting touch with a team-high 25 points on 9-of-19 shooting. Rick Fox had 16 points and Derek Fisher added 11. Horry had eight off the bench.

Wallace had 20 points, Bonzi Wells added 19 and Pippen had 18.

Unlike last year when the Lakers steamrolled the Blazers in the first round, this series was more of a grind-it-out job, epitomized by Sunday's workman-like performance.

The Lakers toyed with the Blazers, never getting untracked in an unremarkable performance but never relinquishing the mental edge they hold over Portland. The Lakers had coughed up a 50-41 halftime lead with a miserable 27.8-percent shooting performance in the third quarter, falling behind by as many as six points, and could only get as close as three points in the fourth before drawing even at 78-78 on Bryant's 3-pointer with 5:53 remaining.

The Lakers took a 84-82 lead at 4:13 on a layup by Fox, but the Blazers ran off seven points in a row to go ahead 89-84 with 39 seconds left when Wallace slammed in a follow-up dunk.

``(We) had done just about everything they wanted us to do, including turning the ball over and (missing) shots,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. ``(We) stopped playing team basketball and moving the ball.''

At that point, the Blazers were looking ahead to a Game 4 here Wednesday, but the Lakers had other ideas.

``We always believe we can win,'' Fox said.

Afterward, Horry, who was questionable for this series after suffering a stomach hematoma 10 days ago, facetiously claimed he didn't want the ball in a game-winning situation.

``I was kind of scared, I just threw it up there,'' Horry said, smiling the whole time. ``It was actually designed for Kobe to try to penetrate and get a 2, we were just trying to tie the game up. But Pippen bit a little too far and Kobe kicked it to me.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) IN A BLAZE OF HORRY

Lakers forward nails 3-pointer with three seconds remaining for a 92-91 victory and sweep of Portland

Associated Press

(2) Kobe Bryant, who passed to Robert Horry for the game-winner, celebrates Sunday's victory.

Shane Young/Associated Press

Box:

(1) LAKERS vs. PORTLAND: (Lakers win best-of-five series 3-0)

(2) GAME RECAP